Chennai, April 23 (IANS) Shakthivel, a worker of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), was arrested for filming himself casting his vote inside a polling booth in the Tirupattur Assembly constituency, even as brisk polling was recorded in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections on Thursday.

According to officials, Shakthivel allegedly recorded a video while voting for the party’s “whistle” symbol using his mobile phone inside the polling compartment.

The footage was later shared on social media as a reel, drawing the attention of election authorities monitoring polling stations through CCTV surveillance.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has repeatedly warned that carrying mobile phones into polling compartments or recording videos is a violation of electoral laws, as it compromises the confidentiality of the ballot.

Acting on CCTV inputs, officials alerted the police, who reached the booth and took the accused into custody.

Authorities said further legal action is being initiated against the individual under relevant provisions of the election law. They also reiterated that strict vigilance would continue throughout polling day to prevent any malpractice and ensure a free and fair election process.

Voting is being held in a single phase across Tamil Nadu, where over 5.73 crore voters are eligible to decide the fate of 4,023 candidates contesting in 234 Assembly constituencies.

A total of 75,064 polling booths have been set up across the state to ensure the smooth conduct of the electoral process, with elaborate security arrangements and monitoring systems in place.

Polling began at 7 a.m., and long queues were witnessed outside several booths as voters turned up in large numbers to exercise their democratic right.

From urban centres like Chennai to rural belts, participation remained steady during the initial hours, reflecting strong voter enthusiasm.

Women, senior citizens, and first-time voters were seen arriving early at polling stations, with officials facilitating priority access for the elderly and persons with disabilities. Young voters, in particular, were actively engaged in the electoral process, with many sharing images of their ink-marked fingers on social media platforms.

Despite isolated incidents, polling across Tamil Nadu has largely remained peaceful, with tight security deployment and continuous monitoring by election officials across all constituencies.

–IANS

aal/dpb